Closure cap for a container

ABSTRACT

In a closure cap ( 1 ) for a container having a disk-like lid ( 3 ) in which is provided a product dispensing channel ( 5 ) that leads to an opening ( 4 ), a hinge ( 6 ) is used to hinge the lid ( 3 ) to a casing member ( 7 ) of the closure cap ( 1 ). The hinge ( 6 ) is provided in order to be able to swivel the lid ( 3 ) selectively into a closed position, in which the opening ( 4 ) is sealed by an inner surface ( 8 ) of the casing member ( 7 ), and into an open position, in which the opening ( 4 ) is not covered by the casing member ( 7 ). A connection ( 9 ), especially a screw thread, is used for mounting the closure cap ( 1 ) on the container and for supplying product from the container via a slot ( 10 ) in the closure cap ( 1 ) to the product dispensing channel ( 5 ). In order to be able to place the lid ( 3 ) on the casing member ( 7 ) with relatively little exertion of force ( 7 ), the hinge ( 6 ) is designed as a snap-on connection.

The subject matter of the application relates to a container with a disk-top closure. Containers of this type have a swiveling lid. The lid forms, for example, the head region of a closure cap. By manually pressing on one edge of the lid, an opposite edge of the lid is swiveled upward and frees an opening provided in the lid for the dispensing of product. After product is discharged, the lid is pushed back into its original position, which seals the opening.

A closure cap of this type for a container is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,978 B1. The closure cap has a disk-like lid in which a product dispensing channel leading to an opening is provided. A hinge is used to hold the lid on a casing member of the closure cap in order to be able to swivel the lid about the hinge and thereby be able either to swivel the lid selectively into a closed position, in which the opening is sealed off by the inner surface of the casing member, or into an open position, in which the opening is not covered by the casing member. A connection, especially a screw thread, is provided for application of the closure cap on the container and for supplying product of the container via a slot in the closure cap to the product dispensing channel.

The known closure cap has the disadvantage that, in its assembly, pins projecting from the lid rim and situated opposite the lid must be engaged in corresponding slots in the inner surface of the casing member. This requires a relatively great amount of force and a corresponding amount of time.

The object of the invention is to achieve a fingertip-easy, quick insertion of the cover in the casing member of the closure cap.

The object is achieved according to the characterizing portion wherein a hinge is designed as a snap-on connection.

The proposed closure cap has the advantage that the lid can be slipped onto the casing member in a fingertip-easy manner and, thus, relatively quickly. No deformation of the lid occurs in this, because the lid diameter remains constant while the lid is being snapped on. The snap-on connection can be provided directly on the inner surface of the casing member or relatively centrally within the casing member.

A fingertip-easy snap-on connection is achieved if lid has a hinge slot on its side that faces the cap interior, is open toward the cap interior and holds a hinge pin that is connected to the casing member. Alternatively, the lid can have on its side that faces the cap interior a hinge pin that is held by a hinge slot connected to the casing member. The lid is merely placed in the casing member from above and then lightly pressed, a hinge pin then snapping into a hinge slot. If an undercut of the hinge slot is also provided for snapping the hinge slot onto the hinge pin, then even though the force required to snap it on is somewhat greater, the snap-on connection is then very stable with respect to an undesired loosening of the cover.

The lid has a stable swivel axis if a hinge pin that engages in a hinge slot is provided on each of two opposite sides of the casing member.

An orientation bevel on the undercut of the hinge slot is suited for the simple insertion of the lid and for the properly positioned connection of hinge slot and hinge pin. Even greater positional deviations are allowed if an orientation bevel is provided on each of two undercuts of a hinge slot. The two orientation bevels then act as a funnel for the introduction of a hinge pin into a hinge slot.

If a seal is provided on the opening that is used to seal the lid against the inner surface of the casing member, product is reliably prevented from being discharged from the opening in an undesirable way when the lid is not exactly closed or if pressure is inadvertently applied to the container. A preferred seal comprises an inner sealing surface which acts against a second sealing surface on the opening and lid of the container.

In order to strip off the product that sticks to the inner surface, it is proposed that two sealing webs running above and beneath the opening transverse to the swiveling direction be provided on the lid. When the lid is swiveled, a deposit of product is wiped from the inner surface. If the lid is opened, the bottom sealing web moves upward to strip away product sticking to the inner surface of the casing member, so that this area of the casing member is cleaned. After a removal of product, a small amount of product may remain on the opening of the lid. The upper sealing web prevents this small amount from covering the inner surface when the lid is closed if the lid is swiveled through a non-closed position.

The invention is described in detail below with reference to Figures below.

The following is shown:

FIG. 1 in a perspective view, a closure cap for a container that has a swiveling lid in the head region of a casing member;

FIG. 2 in a perspective view, the closure cap of FIG. 1, but with the lid removed;

FIG. 3 in a view from above, the closure cap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 in a section along A-A of FIG. 3, the closure cap of FIG. 1 with the lid closed;

FIG. 5 in a section, a detail X of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 in a section along A-A of FIG. 3, the closure cap of FIG. 1 when the lid is swiveled and thereby opened;

FIG. 7 in a section along C-C of FIG. 3, the closure cap of FIG. 1 with the lid closed;

FIG. 8 in a section along D-D of FIG. 3, the closure cap of FIG. 1 with the lid closed; and

FIG. 9 in a section an object analogous to FIG. 8, but with a differently designed snap closure between the lid and the casing member.

In a closure cap 1 (FIG. 1) for a container, a product dispensing channel 5 that leads to an opening 4 is provided in a disk-like lid 3 (FIG. 4). A hinge 6 (FIG. 2, FIG. 8) is used for the hinging of lid 3 to a casing member 7 of closure cap 1 in order to be able to swivel hinge 6 and in so doing to be able to swivel lid 3 selectively into a closed position (FIG. 4), in which opening 4 is sealed by an inner surface 8 of casing member 7, or into an open position (FIG. 6), in which opening 4 is not covered by casing member 7. A connection 9, which is designed as a screw thread, is used for mounting closure cap 1 on the container and for supplying product from the container via a slot 10 of closure cap 1 to product dispensing channel 5. Hinge 6 is designed as a snap closure. Therefore, lid 3 can be placed in a simple manner on otherwise complete closure cap 1 (FIG. 2). Closure cap 1 (FIG. 1, FIG. 3), which thereafter is complete, may then be opened by manually pressing on a finger support 19.

In FIGS. 1 to 8, lid 3 has two hinge slots 12 on its side facing cap interior 11 that are open toward cap interior 11 and each of which holds a hinge pin 13 connected to casing member 7.

Lid 3 of closure cap 1 of FIG. 9 has two hinge pins 13 on its side facing cap interior 11 that are held by two hinge slots 12 connected to casing member 7.

In one embodiment, two undercuts 14 of a hinge slot 12 are used to snap hinge slot 12 onto one hinge pin 13. On each of two opposing sides of casing member 7, a hinge pin 13 is provided that engages in a hinge slot 12. An orientation bevel 2 borders each of four undercuts 14 an insertion aid in order to achieve a precise mounting of lid 3 even when there is an inexact placement of lid 3. Each two orientation bevels 2 on a hinge slot 12 function as a funnel for a hinge pin 13 that is to be inserted.

A seal 15 is provided on opening 4 that is used to seal lid 3 against inner surface 8 of casing member 7 (FIG. 5). Seal 15 has a first sealing surface 16 on inner surface 8 against which a second sealing surface 17, which is provided on opening 4 and on lid 3, acts. Two sealing webs 18, which run transverse to the swivel direction above and below opening 4, are provided on lid 3. Seal 15 is formed by sealing webs 18, which are placed against sealing surface 16. It reliably prevents product from escaping, even when lid 3 is not exactly closed. Furthermore, the sealing webs are used for stripping off product residues sticking to inner surface 8 so that no significant encrustation of product occurs there.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS LIST

-   -   1 Closure cap     -   2 Orientation bevels     -   3 Lid     -   4 Opening     -   5 Product dispensing channel     -   6 Hinge     -   7 Casing member     -   8 Inner surface     -   9 Connection     -   10 Slot     -   11 Cap interior     -   12 Hinge slot     -   13 Hinge pin     -   14 Undercut     -   15 Seal     -   16, 17 Sealing surface     -   18 Sealing web     -   19 Finger support

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm”.

All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to the term in this written document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention. 

1. A closure cap for a container comprising a disk-like lid which comprises a product dispensing channel that leads to an opening, a hinge for hinging the lid to a casing member of the closure cap in order to be able to swivel the hinge and thereby be able to swivel the lid alternately into a closed position, in which the opening is sealed off by an inner surface of the casing member, and an open position, in which the opening is not covered by the casing member, and a connection for mounting the closure cap on the container and for feeding product from the container via a slot in the closure cap to the product dispensing channel, wherein the hinge is a snap-on connection.
 2. A closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a hinge slot on its side that faces the cap interior, that is open toward the cap interior and holds a hinge pin that is connected to the casing member.
 3. A closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a hinge pin on its side that faces the cap interior that is held by a hinge slot, which is connected to the casing member.
 4. A closure cap according to claim 2, wherein an undercut of the hinge slot is provided for snapping the hinge slot onto the hinge pin.
 5. A closure cap according to claim 2, wherein a hinge pin that engages in a hinge slot is provided on each of two opposing sides of the casing member.
 6. A closure cap according to claim 4, comprising an orientation bevel adjacent to the undercut.
 7. A closure cap according to claim 1 wherein a seal that is used to seal the cover against the inner surface of the casing member is provided on the opening.
 8. A closure cap according to claim 7, wherein the seal comprises a first sealing surface on the inner surface against which a second sealing surface that is provided on the opening and acts on the lid.
 9. A closure cap according to claim 7, wherein the lid comprises two sealing webs which run above and below the opening transverse to the swivel direction.
 10. A closure cap according to claim 1, wherein said connection is a screw thread. 